Sex Helps Initiate Relationships with Potential Partners
Sex,glorious sex. Is there anything it can’t do? Well, most likely – but the benefits of a healthy sex life are numerous. It’s healthy for the body, mind, and soul. Being sexually attracted to a potential partner is the precursor to intercourse and can very well result in the beginning of beautiful and blossoming relationship. Sexual intercourse has the ability to bring two partners closer together through intimacy. Sexual intercourse is a bonding experience where both parties trust each other enough to get naked and share this experience.
Through evolution humans have developed the romantic attachment to those they find sexually attractive. This is not always the case, however, especially when referring to one night stands – but that’s a whole different ball game on its own and deserves its own study! In this post we are talking about forming a bond through sexual attraction.
Studies have shown that when two people meet and are sexually attracted to each other certain verbal and nonverbal behaviours suggest willingness for sex, not only that, but express caring qualities of their potential partners wellbeing. A four-part study in the Journal of Social and Personal relationships demonstrated that sexual desire elicits behaviours that facilitate emotional bonding during face to face encounters. Let’s take a closer look.
Study 1
Two people who were sexually attracted to each other were put in a room and mimed a song together. They were video recorded while doing so. When the experiment was over each person was asked to rate their desire for the other person after the experiment. The study found that those who were in more in sync during the mime were more sexually attracted to one another after. This goes to show that nonverbal behaviour plays a key role in sexual attraction.
Study 2
In study number 2 instead of miming a song together the subjects were asked to slow dance with one another. Again, after they were finished, they were asked to rate their sexual desire for the other subject. The results showed that the people who were more in tune while slow dancing were more sexually attracted to one another.
Study 3
In study 3, participants were subliminally exposed to sexual stimuli. Specifically, participants were told to indicate their food, clothing, and place preferences for the perfect date by pickingone of two options presented from seven categories (e.g., colour of clothes: black or blue; location: bar or restaurant). At each option, subjects were exposed to either a sexual prime (an attractive naked, reclining man shown from the groin up for female participants; an attractive, naked, kneeling woman photographed from behind for male participants) or a neutral prime, which was presented subliminally.
Then, the subjects discussed several personal things with an opposite-sex subject while being filmed. Judges rated the extent to which subjects engaged in behaviours that conveyed responsiveness and caring to the other person. The study found the subjects were more responsive in the sexual priming phase. In layman’s terms it means that people are more likely to develop feelings for the person if they are sexually aroused by that person.
Study 4
Study 4 had both participants watch erotic videos in separate rooms. They were then asked to fill out a questionnaire in same room as one another, seated next to each other. While filling out the questionnaire it was common for one of the subjects to ask the help of the other. This is detailing how sexual arousal can evoke a caring response in people.
These studies can be a little technical so let’s break it down with a real lifescenario.
You meet an attractive person and follow it up with a date. The whole time you are growing more attracted to him or her by what they say and what they look like. Later that night you end the date with a kiss. This further fuels the fire of desire to see each other again and possibly take a step further and end in bed.
The anticipation is immense and it takes hold of you both. You can feel it in the air. You both want to get out of wherever the date is and rip each other clothes off! After the date maybeit happens. You have sex and wind up sitting back in bed after sex, feeling relaxed together talking about the future, while embracing.
It’s no secret that having sexual intercourse has the ability to bring to potential partners closer together and it could even eventuate into a relationship. A healthy sex life has is also one aspect and a telling sign of a healthy relationship and that why it’s imperative to maintain an active sex life. If you are having problems such as erectile dysfunction you may want to consider seeking professional help, so your relationship doesn’t suffer under the strain of lack of sex.
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